RHEL-08-040321 - The graphical display manager must not be the default target on RHEL 8 unless approved.

Information

Internet services that are not required for system or application processes must not be active to decrease the attack surface of the system. Graphical display managers have a long history of security vulnerabilities and must not be used, unless approved and documented.

Solution

Document the requirement for a graphical user interface with the ISSO or reinstall the operating system without the graphical user interface. If reinstallation is not feasible, then continue with the following procedure:

Open an SSH session and enter the following commands:

$ sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

A reboot is required for the changes to take effect.

See Also

https://dl.dod.cyber.mil/wp-content/uploads/stigs/zip/U_RHEL_8_V2R3_STIG.zip

Item Details

Category: CONFIGURATION MANAGEMENT

References: 800-53|CM-6b., CAT|II, CCI|CCI-000366, Rule-ID|SV-251718r1017371_rule, STIG-ID|RHEL-08-040321, Vuln-ID|V-251718

Plugin: Unix

Control ID: 10723f91761cb8cff0902f976df9b8fe38be388680657ae95d83e9990c14def0